Toy device



C. POTICHA Feb. 6, 1962 TOY DEVICE Filed June 15, 1959 A Ha; cm p S United States Patent 3,019,555 TOY DEVHIE Charles Poticha, 1214 W. 139th 5 .2, Hawthorne, Calif. Filed June 15, 1959, tier. No. 820,211 12 Claims. (Cl. 46-443) The present invention relates to toys in general and more particularly relates to a motor-driven gyroscopic type of toy that is adapted both to move along the ground and to move through the air.

Toys that are capable of moving through the air are generally incapable of also moving a ong the ground. On the other hand, toys that move along the ground are generally incapable of also being propelled through the air.

It is, therefore an object of the present invention to provide a toy that is capable of being propelled either along the ground or through the air.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a toy wherein the speed of rotation of one of its members determines whether the toy moves along the ground or through the air.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gyroscopic-type toy that is electrically controlled for movement either along the earth or through the air.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides and consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter to be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departure from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an elevation view in cross-section of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1a shows a modification of one portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 2 is an elevation view, slightly in perspective, of another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG.

1 a gyroscopic-type toy which, in accordance with the present invention, is capable of motion through the air as well as along the ground. As shown, the toy comprises a shaft upon which a wheel, generally designated 11, is rigidly mounted, the shaft running through the center of the wheel at right angles to the plane thereof. With respect to wheel 11, the wheel includes a relatively thick and heavy rim 12 which is rigidly held in position by means of a plurality of spoke elements 13 which interconnect the rim to shaft 10. On the other hand, it should be recognized that the area between the shaft and the rim may be solid. Wheel 11 may be made of a host of diiferent materials but, since it should have a fly-wheel type of momentum, is preferably made of cast iron or some similar type substance. Furthermore, spoke elements 13 are preferably painted various colors for reasons that will be mentioned later.

Mounted on the lower portion of shaft 10 is a small electric motor 14, the rotor of the motor being coupled to the shaft so that when the motor is driven and the rotor, therefore, rotated, the shaft will rotate with it. At the bottom end of shaft 10 is either a wheel element or a ball-type element for reasons to be explained later. A ball-type element 15 is shown in the figure and is mounted on the bottom tip of the shaft so that the ball element is integral therewith and extends therefrom.

. Connected to motor 14 at a pair of terminals 16a and 16b thereon, are a pair of wires 17a and 17b, wire 17a electrically interconnecting terminal 16a and one end of a battery 18 and wire 17b electrically interconnecting ter- "ice minal 16b and one end of an on-off switch 29. A variable resistor, such as a potentiometer 21 is electrically connected between the other ends of battery 18 and switch 20. A knob 22 is mounted on the potentiometer for varying the resistance therein. Still another way for varying the resistance is obtained by means of push-buttons, where one button connects a resistor of one value into the circuit and the other push-button connects a resistor of another value into the circuit, as illustrated in FIG. la.

Also included in the embodiment of the invention is at least one ring rotatably mounted on shaft 10 on the upper side of motor 14. Preferably two rings are included as shown in the figure wherein they are designated 23 and 24 respectively. With respect to the rings shown, ring 23 is mounted on shaft 10 so that the shaft coincides with a diameter of the ring. Furthermore, ring 2?- is pivotally mounted so that it can freely rotate or turn about the shaft. Ring 24, on the other hand, is not mounted on the shaft but is fixedly connected instead to ring 23 in such a manner that the planes of the two rings are perpendicular to each other, the plane of ring 24 being in the plane of wheel 11. In other words, ring 24 is concentric with wheel 11. It can thus be said that rings 23 and 24 are rotatable together about shaft 10. The exact nature of the connections between rings 23 and 24 and between ring 23 and shaft 1t are clearly shown in the figure.

Surrounding motor 14 and rings 23 and 24 is a plastic envelope 25 which preferably follows the contours of these elements. Moreover, envelope 25 is preferably made of a clear plastic so that the various elements inside can be clearly seen, including the variously colored spoke elements 13.

Finally, fixedly mounted on shaft 16 at the upper tip thereof is a propeller 26. Hence, propeller 26 is above envelope 25 and is rotatable with shaft 1t). Propeller 26 may be made of plastic, wood or any other suitable material that is both sturdy and light.

Considering now the operation of the embodiment described, when on-off switch 2% is closed, battery 18 is immediately connected across terminals 160. and llb through potentiometer 21. As a result, motor 14 is activated, which means that the rotor therein commences to rotate, thereby causing shaft 1% to rotate as well. The speed of rotation of the motor and, therefore, of the shaft is controlled by the resistance of potentiometer 21 since the value of its resistance determines the ma nitude of the electrical current flow through the motor. Thus, by turning knob 22 one way or the other, the resistance of potentiometer 21 may be varied, the motor and shaft speed in turn being varied thereby.

Since wheel 12 is mounted on shaft 10, rotation of the shaft produces rotation of the wheel, with the result that a rainbow of colors becomes visible through plastic envelope 25 due to the motion of spoke elements 13. Moreover, it will be recognized that ball element 15 and propeller 26 also rotate in consequence of the rotation of shaft 10. It should be additionally mentioned that there is a frictional contact between shaft 10 and ring 23 and that this is enough to cause ring 23 to rotate at an ever increasing speed in the same direction as the shaft. Utimately, therefore, rings 23 and 24 will rotate at substantially the same speed as shaft 10 and propeller 26.

Assuming a relatively low speed of rotation for the above-mentioned parts, if the toy is now placed on the ground in an upright position so that rotating member 15 is in contact with the ground, it will be found that the toy will remain balanced in an upright position and, furthermore, that it will move along the ground. The movement of the toy can be guided by pulling gently 3 on wires 17a and 17b. If now knob 22 is turned in a direction that will reduce the resistance of potentiometer 21, the effect will be to increase the flow of electrical current to motor 14 and to correspondingly increase. the speed of rotation of the various rotatable elements. Thus, the, rotational speed of propeller 2% is increased and when it, has been sufliciently increased, the toy will lift off the ground and rnove through the air. Here again, the toys motion may be directed by suitably pulling on-wn'es 17a and 17b., To return the toy to ground, knob 22 is, slowly turned in an opposite direction, which thereby results in the propeller slowing down. The toy thereafter gently settles to the ground and resumes its previous movement along it. To stop the operation of the toy entirely, it is necessary only to open the on-oif switch 20.

if the modification of FIG. 1a is utilized, then it is merely a matter of connecting one resistor or the other between the battery and the motor. In one case, the resistor is of such a value that the toy will move only along the ground whereas in the other case, the resistor is of a value that permits the toy to move into the air, for the reasons previously considered.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2 and since the internal construction of this embodiment is identical. with that of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the FIG. 2. embodiment is not shown in crosssection nor is description of its internal arrangement deemed necessary. Rather, attention is called to the plastic envelope which in this embodiment is divided into two parts, namely, an upper part 25:; and a lower part 25!). Lower part 25b is in no way coupled .to shaft in and, hence, is immobile, which is to say that it does not rotate with shaft 10. Upper part 25a, on the other hand, is in some manner coupled to shaft 19 as by coupling it directly to the shaft or by indirectly coupling it to the shaft. Envelope part 25a may be indirectly coupled-to s .aft 1d by attaching it to rings 25 and 24. Thus, since part Eda-is coupled to shaft 19, it will be obvious that this part willv rotate with the shaft at the same speed.

cut

Consideringnow the upper part inv greater detail, an

annular ring 27 of fin-like structures 28 is mounted integrallyv with upper part 25a and extending outwardly tk inclined and preferably overlap slightly, the degree of incline being sutficient to make the fins push against the air with some force when ring 27 is rotated. Upper part 250 of the envelope also has a plurality of orifices fvi there-through along a circle therearound as shown in the figure. The function oforifices 36 willbe more clearly understood from the description of the operation preseated below.

The. embodiment of FIG. 2 also includes'a windmill like member 31 mounted on shaft 1d at the upper tip :1

ring 33'and'an inner disk 34 mountedvon. shaft 1i) and fixed to it. Ring 33 and disk .34 help support structures 32 which are inclined in the same manner as are fins 28.

Finally, wires 17a and 171) are connected to a switch, battery and potentiometer combination exactly as shown inFiG. 1. Accordingly, the combination is not illustrated again to avoid unnecessary repetition.

in operation, when shaft .10 is made to rotate, upper part 250 of the plastic, envelope and member 31 will also rotate at the shaft speed. When the rotational speed is relatively low, the toy will merely move along the ground. However, when the rotational speed is relatively high, the toy will lift into and move through the air for reasons previously explained, namely, the pressure of fins '28 and structures .32 against the air produces, when they-turn fast enough, a reaction or lifting force that is large enough tolift the toy off the-ground and through theair. As before, thespeed of rotation is controlled .nerefrom in the plane of wheel 11. Pins 28 are slightly by varying the resistance of potentiometer 21 (shown in FIG. 1).

It should be noted that member 31 may be replaced by a simple propeller, such as propeller 26 in FIG. 1. A propeller would produce equally good results. It should be also noted that member 31 may be eliminated entirely and no substitution made for it if fins, 2.3 are made large enough to supply the force necessary to lift the toy. Of course, this can be achieved so that a num ber of possibilities exist. With respect to orifices 34 t should further be noted that air gets caught in the orifices during the rotation of part 25a and that this causes a whistling sound to be produced as another feature of the embodiment.

It should also be mentioned that although the embodiments of the present invention were described as including a pair of rings 23 and 24 coupled to shaft 16, the

embodiments are not necessarily limited to the useof such rings. Instead of rings, for example, a cagemay be employed with equally good effects. Furthermore,

the plastic envelope in FIG. 2 was described as having two parts 25a and 2517 with the separation therebetween being located immediately below annular ring 27. It

will be recognized that the plastic envelope or housing surrounding the gyroscopic portion may be made as a unit, that is, in one piece, and a separate housing or envelope used for the motor. In such a case, the envelope would resemble a sphere and all of it would turn rather than only one half of it.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A toy capable of motion either along the ground or through the air, said toy comprising: a gyroscopic device including a rotatable shaft, 2. wheel mounted on the 1 shaft and rotatable therewith in a plane perpendicular to said shaft, and first and second rings, said first ring.

being rotatably mounted on said shaft in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said wheel and in frictional contact with said shaft, said second, ring being rigidly coupled to said first ring and concentric with'said wheel;

a ball-shaped memberrigidly mounted on one end of said shaft; a propeller for lifting saidgyroscopic device.

intothe air rigidly mounted on the other end of said shaft; an electric motor coupled to. said shaft between-v said gyroscopic device and said ball-shaped member'for rotating said shaft; :1 battery; and a potentiometer connected in series between said battery and said motor for varying the speed of said motor.

contactwith said shaft, said second ring being rigidly coupled to said first ring and concentric with said wheel; aball-shaped member rigidly mounted onone end of i said shaft; a windmill-like member for lifting said gyro-. scopic device into the-air rigidly mounted on the other,

end of said shaft, said member including an outer ring, an inner disk mounted on said shaft in a plane parallel to'said wheel, and a plurality of triangular-shaped propeller-like structures mounted between said outer ring and said inner disk, said structures being inclined to the" plane of said disk; an electric motor coupled to said shaft between said gyroscopic device and said ball-shaped member for rotating said shaft; a battery; and a potentiometer connected in series between said battery and said motor for varying the speed of said motor.

3. A toy capable of motion either along the ground or through the air, said'toy comprising: a gyroscopic deviceincluding a rotatable shaft, a wheel mountedonthe shaft and rotatable therewith ina plane perpendicular to saidshaft, and first and second rings, said first ring being rotate. ly mounted on said shaft in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said wheel and in frictional contact with said shaft, said second ring being rigidly coupled to said first ring and concentric with said wheel; a ball-shaped member rigidly mounted on one end of said shaft; means for lifting said gyroscopic device into the air rigidly mounted on the other end of said shaft; an electric motor coupled to said shaft between said gyrosoopic device and said ball-shaped member for rotating said shaft; a battery; and first and second circuits connected in parallel between said battery and said motor, each of said circuits including a switch and a resistor connected in series, the resistor of one of said circuits being higher-valued than the resistor in the other of said circuits.

4. Apparatus capable of motion both along the ground and through the air, comprising: a gyroscope including a rotatable shaft, a wheel mounted upon said shaft and rotatable therewith in a plnae perpendicular to said shaft, and a ring rotatably mounted upon said shaft in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said wheel and in frictional contact with said shaft; an electric motor having a stator and a rotor, said rotor being a coaxial extension of said shaft, and one end of said rotor being adapted for ba ancing and moving said apparatus on said ground when said rotor is rotating; and means fixedly connected to said shaft for lifting said apparatu into the air.

5. A gyroscopic device capable of motion both along the ground and through the air, comprising: a rotatable shaft; a gyroscope wheel perpendicularly mounted upon said shaft and rotatable therewith; a ring rotatably mounted upon said shaft in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said wheel and in frictional contact with said shaft, said shaft, wheel and ring being capable of operating as a gyroscope; an electric motor having a stator, said shaft passing through said stator and being capable of operating as the rotor of said motor; and means fixedly connected to one end of said shaft for lifting said device into the air, the other end of said shaft being adapted for balancing said device on said ground when said shaft is rotating.

6. A gyroscopic device capable of motion along the ground, comprising: a rotatable shaft; a gyroscope wheel perpendicularly mounted upon said shaft and rotatable therewith; a ring rotatably mounted upon said shaft in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said wheel and in frictional contact with said shaft, said shaft, wheel and ring being capable of operating as a gyroscope; and an electric motor having a stator, said shaft passing through said stator and being capable of operating as the rotor of said motor, and one end of said shaft being adapted for balancing said device on said ground when said shaft is rotatmg.

7. Apparatus capable of motion through the air, comprising: a gyroscope having a rotatable shaft; an electric motor having a stator, said shaft cooperating with said stator and being capable of operating as the rotor of said motor; and means connected to said shaft for lifting said apparatus into the air.

8. Apparatus capable of motion both along the ground and through the air, comprising: a gyroscope having a rotatable shaft; an electric motor having a stator, said shaft cooperating with said stator and being capable of operting as the rotor of said motor; and means connected to said shaft for lifting said apparatus into the air, one end of said shaft being adapted for balancing said apparatus on said ground when said shaft is rotating.

9. A toy capable of motion either along the ground or through the ainsaid toy comprising: a gyroscopic device including a rotatable shaft, a wheel mounted on the shaft and rotatable therewith in a plane perpendicular to said shaft, and first and second rings, said first ring being rotatably mounted on said shaft in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said wheel and in frictional contact with said shaft, said second ring being rigidly coupled to said first ring and concentric with said wheel; a ball-shaped member rigidly mounted on one end of said shaft; means for lifting said gyroscopic device into the air rigidly mounted on the other end of said shaft; and driver means coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft at selected speeds, said driver means including an electric motor coupled to said shaft, and electrical means connected to said motor for selectively varying the speed of said motor over a predetermined range of motor speeds.

10. The toy defined in claim 9 wherein said electrical means includes a battery and a potentiometer connected in series with said motor.

11. The toy defined in claim 9 wherein. said electrical means includes a battery, and first and second circuits connected in parallel between said battery and said motor, each of said circuits including a switch and a resistor connected in series, the resistor of one of said circuits being higher-valued than the resistor in the other of said circuits.

12. A toy capable of motion either along the ground or through the air, said toy comprising: a gyroscopic device including a rotatable shaft, a wheel mounted on the shaft and rotatable therewith in a plane perpendicular to said shaft, and first and second rings, said first ring being rotatably mounted on said shaft in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said wheel and in frictional contact with said shaft, said second ring being rigidly coupled to said first ring and concentric with said wheel; a ball-shaped member rigidly mounted on one end of said shaft; means for lifting said gyroscopic device into the air rigidly mounted on the other end of said shaft; and driver means coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft at selected speeds, said driver means including an electric motor having a stator, said shaft passing through said stator and being capable of operating as the rotor of said motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,292,793 Jotfe Jan. 28, 1919 1,363,718 Cayo Dec. 28, 1920 1,856,514 Sheneman May 3, 1932 2,429,502 Young Oct. 21, 1947 2,435,445 Kerezi Feb. 3, 1948 2,493,834 Sanders et al Jan. 10, 1950 2,731,836 Wendt Jan 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,000,548 France Oct. 17, 1951 

